Art Gallery of South AustraliaINNER SANCTUM

Connecting the intimate and vast, physical and psychic

Context
First held in 1990, The Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art remains the pre-eminent and longest-running survey of contemporary art in Australia, and has become a vital platform for showcasing the work of both established and emerging artists.
Curated by José Da Silva, the 18th edition entitled “Inner Sanctum” unfolds across five chapters, each exploring both the private and sacred spaces we create in our homes and communities as a refuge or sanctuary, and the faculty of imagination which allows us to see culture and society differently.
Challenge
Working in collaboration with José we navigated the intricacies of interpreting “Inner Sanctum” as an identity system that supported the needs of the AGSA curatorial and marketing teams, and a campaign that reflected the thematic and structural depth of the show.
Solution
BaseMEL imagined the identity and campaign as a visual echo – a gesture that connects and collapses foreground with background, blurs boundaries, and reflects the way our memories shift and change overtime.
In bringing this to life we invited photographer Annika Kafcaloudis to develop a series of solarised photographic motifs that express each of Inner Sanctum’s five chapters. These motifs were then melded into one another by animator Alex Barnet, allowing language to blend into visual matter and come in and out of focus.

Completing the visual identity is a distinctive typographic expression featuring carefully crafted ligatures and glyphs that intertwine to create a unique rhythm and resonance, harmoniously merging the campaign with its linguistic elements. The connecting bracket, a key symbol for the show, represents the interplay between the inner and outer worlds that lie at the heart of José's curatorial vision. Strategically placed throughout the gallery, these serve as subtle indicators of where the Biennial artworks are interwoven with the permanent collection, creating a seamless and immersive experience for visitors.

Collectively, these elements provided a unique and adaptable campaign strategy for AGSA, aligning with Base’s larger programme of work for the institution from 2024 onwards.

First held in 1990, The Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art remains the pre-eminent and longest-running survey of contemporary art in Australia, and has become a vital platform for showcasing the work of both established and emerging artists.

Curated by José Da Silva, the 18th edition entitled “Inner Sanctum” unfolds across five chapters, each exploring both the private and sacred spaces we create in our homes and communities as a refuge or sanctuary, and the faculty of imagination which allows us to see culture and society differently.